Ventilating attachment for shoes.



W. J. DUNCAN.-

VENTILATING ATTACHMENT FOR SHOES.

' APPLICATION FILED '2211.11, 1911.

997,658, Patented July 11,1911.

IIL//////////////////////////; i//%////////////////////A COLUMBIA ELANOQMPH C0,, WASHINGTON, D. C-

' i TTED STATS PATENT FTQE.

WILLIAM J. DUNCAN, OF WARDNER, IDAHO.

VENTILATING ATTACHMENT FOR SHOES.

senses.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, lVILLIAM J. DUNCAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at ardner, in the county of Shoshone and State of Idaho, have invented new and useful Improvements in Ventilating Attach ments for Shoes, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to shoe attachments, and more particularly to the class of ventilating attachments for foot-wear.

The primary object of the invention is to provide an attachmentof this character by which the interior of the foot-wear may be ventilated, without admitting water therein while the foot-wear is in use.

Another object of the invention is to provide a. ventilating attachment of the character described, by which the interior of the shoe may be ventilated and which is adjustable whereby the amount of ventilation may be regulated.

A further object of the invention is to provide an attachment of this character which, when applied to footwear, may be securely fastened thereto and will form a water-tight joint therewith, thereby obviating the possibility of leakage of the footwear when in use, although permitting the interior of the said foot-wear to be ventilated to overcome the perspiration of the feet of the wearer.

A still further object of the invention is I the provision of an attachment of this character which is simple in construct-ion, thoroughly reliable and eflicient in operation, and inexpensive in manufacture.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of the construction, combination and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claims hereunto appended.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a fragmentary bottom plan view of a shoe, showing the invention applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a. vertical longitudinal sectional view thereof. Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 33 of Fig. 2.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Referring to the drawings by numerals, 5 designates a portion of an outer sole, 6 the shank, 7 the heel of a shoe of the ordi Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed February 11, 1911.

Patented July 11, 1911. Serial No. 608,016.

nary wellknown construction, the same be ing preferably constructed from leather, and the shank 6 has connected thereto the ventilating attachment, as will be hereinafter more fully described.

The attachment comprises a cup-shaped shell or casing 8, preferably constructed from metal having securely mounted therein a plurality of air inlet tubes 9, the free ends of which are slit at intervals to form bendable lips of tongues 10, and within this shell or casing 8 is fitted a resilient pad or block 11, preferably of rubber, the inlet air tubes 9 being passed through suitable openings formed in the shank 6 to the interior of the shoe, and the said tongues or lips 10 are outturned, whereby the said tubes will be securely fastened or riveted to the shank 6, so that the resilient pad 11 will be compressed in abutting relation to the outer face of the shank 6 of the shoe. The shell or casing 8 is disposed contiguous the heel 7 of the shoe, although it may be located at any other desirable point of the shank of the said shoe, if deemed expedient.

Rotatably mounted upon the shell or casing 8 is a cap 12, the same being centrally pivoted to the shell or casing 8 by means of a pivot 13, whereby it may be turned at will. The cap 12 is provided with an inturned marginal annular flange 14: which snugly fits exteriorly about the sides of the shell 8, and this flange is formed with an external knurled circular rib 15 which permits the same to be readily gripped for the turning of the cap.

Formed in the cap is a series of openings 16, the said openings being adapted for registration with the bores in the inlet tubes 9, which open through the shell 8 and into the interior of the shoe. Normally, the cap is so positioned that the openings 16 therein are out of alinement with the bores in the inlet air tubes 9, thereby closing the same. However, when it is desired to ventilate the interior of the shoe, the cap is turned the required degree, whereby the openings 16 therein will register with the bores in the inlet tubes 9. Thus during the walking of the wearer of the shoe, the motion of the foot within the latter will effect a suction therein, causing an inflow of air to the interior of the shoe for ventilating purposes. It is evident that when the cap is turned, so that openings 16 are out of register with the bores in the air inlet tubes 9, it will be impossible for water to leak into or be admitted within the shoe.

hat is claimed is:

1. The combination with the shank of a shoe, of a ventilating device comprising a cup-shaped shell, a plurality of air inlet tubes fixed to the shell and having split free ends and engaged in the shank, the said split free ends being outturned for the fastening of the tubes in the shank, a resilient cushion held within the said shell and contacting with the outer face of the shank to form a water-tight joint between the shell and the shank, and a perforated cap pivotally mounted upon the shell and normally closing the air inlet tubes.

2. The combination with the shank of a shoe, of a ventilating device comprising a cup-shaped shell, a plurality of air inlet tubes fixed to the shell and having split free ends and engaged in the shank, the said split free ends being outturned for the fastening of the tubes in the shank, a resilient cushion held within the said shell and contacting with the outer face of the shank to form a watertight joint between the shell and the shank, a perforated cap pivotally mounted upon the shell and normally closing the air inlet tubes, the said perforations in the cap being adapted for registration with the tubes, and a knurled external rib formed on the cap, whereby the same may be turned.

In testimony whereof I afliX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

VILLIAM J. DUNCAN. Vitnesses R. E. \VENIGER, S. G. HART.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. C. 

